Describe Your (perfect) Schedule

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>'Ello everyone;</p>

<p>My school district is completely renovating it's curriculum for next year, rearranging class periods, grading policies, new courses, etc - and because I know everyone on the school board, the board president has asked me to put together a proposal for what they should change.</p>

<p>Soooo....</p>

<p>I'm looking for suggestions for what your perfect high school schedule would look like. What would your perfect high school's classes look like?</p>

<p>Tons of random electives? Which ones?
A pass/fail option for fun classes?
Ultra advanced courses in things like organic chemistry?
Double block classes?
Class credit for self-studied APs?</p>

<p>All ideas are welcome!</p>

2

<p>Holy cow!!! That’s so awesome! I wish I were in your situation :smiley: my school’s scheduling options definitely needs a facelift.</p>

<p>One good thing about our curriculum though is our communication cluster. Every year we get to choose from one of four options: public speaking, debate, philosophy/sophistry, or writing seminar.</p>

<p>Because of this mandatory communication req (which is in addition to English class), our school has an excellent reputation in areas such as forensics (speech&debate), FBLA (especially public speaking), and JSA among others. It pretty much forces everyone to learn excellent communication skills.</p>

3

<p>What an opportunity! I have always liked block scheduling- 4 classes one day and 4 classes the next (each roughly 1.5 hours). That way you can take 8 classes so you have a good balance between core classes, some art/music/electives, maybe a foreign language for a free period. Also, if you play a sport on a competitive level OR you demonstrate GREAT physical fitness you do not have to do PE. Another idea would be to make a health/PE hybrid class (you learn about exercise, diet, anatomy, all that good stuff). </p>

<p>As for electives- make sure you have enough for everybody to like. Have a good mix of music, art, science or math (so you can take AP Physics/ AP Bio at the same time or AP Calc/ AP Stats). (not for PE credit) I think it would be cool to have like elective PE classes geared to certain activities like racquet sports, water sports, bowling/other stuff like that. </p>

<p>Classes like o-chem I think may be ridiculous for high schoolers (I am unaware of how smart your school is however). But I like the idea of classes that are out of the ordinary of the core curriculum. So for science maybe like a class for anatomy or entomology… Math maybe a lower level engineering course for kids in calculus/physics where they build cool stuff… Creative writing/journalism for English. and for history courses that spend only one semester on certain topics ie: civil war, cold war, WW2, WW1… </p>

<p>I’ll try to post more as they come to me. Sounds really fun!</p>

4

<p>BLOCK SCHEDULING</p>

<p>I cannot emphasize how useful that is!!</p>

5

<p>Basically, like a lot of arts and science courses and options as to what to take, still having state standards while adding more to it.
Ex:
Marching Band
Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, or one of the other ensembles
AP Chemistry
Honors Physics
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC, more geared toward uses in architecture and engineering
AP History of Art
AP Studio Art</p>

<p>(yeah ikr xD)</p>

6

<p>French
German
Mandarin Chinese
Fashion Design
Culinary Arts
P.E.</p>

<p>I have taken all of of the above (not in one semester of course) except for French. I feel like this would be such an enjoyable and relaxing schedule :)</p>

7

<p>DON’T HAVE TONS OF RANDOM ELECTIVES!!!</p>

<p>my school has like maybe 40, and trust me, it’s KILLER when it comes time for planning freshmen, sophomore, and junior year schedules. just try having a some (max. 25?) that are interesting. it would probably be nice if the subjects ranged, like having maybe something to do with computers, visual arts, philosophy, etc.
it might also be nice if the languages were ranged. not necessarily having many languages, but not having all European ones. after all, if you’re going to take a language there should be something that varies more from American culture. maybe Mandarin, French, Spanish, Greek, Arabic? </p>

<p>I also agree with Godot17. block scheduling is a lifesaver sometimes.</p>

<p>for PE, it’s nice to have different electives. if people take things they like, they’ll be more into it. again, range is the key</p>

<p>this might be completely unrelated, and probably doesn’t apply to your school, but if there is any class that has to do with cultures around the world, get rid of it. immediately. it sounds good in theory, but in my experience, things like that usually end up being ridiculously ethnocentric. if anything, world history, art history, and the like are the best classes to learn about other cultures. </p>

<p>it’s really cool that you’re able to do this as a student. I wish I could. sorry about the long post, I just switched schools last year and ended up developing these endless opinions about the classes. good luck with new curriculum stuff! :D</p>

8

<p>The perfect schedule that is possible in my school would be:</p>

<p>Wind Ensemble
Jazz Ensemble/Band
AP Music Theory
TV/Media
English
Culinary Arts
Gym
Marching Band </p>

<p>But since I need a rigorous schedule realistically it would be</p>

<p>English
AP Calculus
AP Physics
AP Microeconomics
AP Music Theory
Jazz Ensemble/Band
Wind Ensemble
Gym
Marching Band</p>

9

<p>Elixirs
Transfiguration
Charms
Charms
Defence againts dark arts
Astronomy
Ancient Runes
Quidditch
Quidditch</p>

<p>lol</p>

10

<p>@Kaka: YESSS!!! That’s my dream schedule too! Although I’d take out one f the charm classes and replace it with Care of Magical Creatures and Potions.</p>

11

<p>Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free</p>

<p>yep</p>

12

<p>My school has a special select class for those who are more advanced in certain subjects, e.g. chemistry. It’s harder than AP classes and it also explores topics beyond AP level (think of it as an elective class but a hard one).</p>

<p>Block scheduling is great.</p>

<p>My previous school had a one block reserved just for consulting teachers. If one didn’t have any consults then, the block would be used for self-studying or projects.</p>

13

<p>If you have lab periods for certain science classes, make sure they’re scheduled so that people who want to take 2 sciences at a time can do so.</p>

14

<p>Orch, Band, Choir would be good electives. Also bunch of art classes
At my school we actually have an advanced PE classes.
Maybe some business and technology classes- that’s 50+ elective right there.</p>

15

<p>Don’t make PE a requirement to graduate.</p>

16

<p>1st: free - need a free period in the morning to help me catch up on work, etc.
2nd: gym - play a little basketball; jog on the track; whatever
3rd: SAT prep - CR
4th SAT prep - W
5th: SAT prep - M
6th: O well since I have 6 periods at my school I’ll just make this period free :p.</p>